Rep. Peter King Calls For Review On How To Inform Public Of Top-Secret Information

Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, on Tuesday called for a review of how the government informs the public about top-secret information.

King's call for a review came after the Obama administration confirmed on Monday that authorities seized an upgraded version of an underwear bomb that was part of a plot by al Qaeda operatives in the Arabian Peninsula to blow up a United States-bound airliner.

The congressman has suggested that the Obama administration may have misled the public by being silent about al Qaeda's latest attempt, according to Fox News.

The month leading up to the first anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden on May 2, FBI and Homeland Security officials issued statements, informing local law enforcement agencies to stay alert. However, officials did say there were no indications of a credible threat or plot.

According to Fox News, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday said President Barack Obama was made aware of the operation in early April.

I think we have to find a better way in the future to see or at least do [a review on] how we can tell the public, what we should tell the public, King told Fox News.

He added that if officials are trying to keep a secret they should do it in a way not to mislead the public.

King did tell Fox News that while there isn't any specific evidence that indicates the plot had ties to bin Laden's anniversary, al Qaeda does respect that date.

I would make the operating assumption [that] certainly the anniversary was a factor in choosing this time and place, King said.